ZAGREB, March 23 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic could mediate in the conflict between Albanians and Macedonians, renowned Albanian writer Ismail Kadare said in Zagreb on Friday. Mesic is a humanist, a president with a
vision of this region's future, Kadare said answering reporters' questions at today's news conference ahead of tonight's presentation of "Three Elegies for Kosovo", Kadare's first book to be translated into Croatian. Commenting on his role as spokesman for the Albanian people in the world, Kadare said Albanians had to be grateful to Europe for freedom in Kosovo. The destiny of the Albanian people is linked with the destiny of the western democracy and any other idea contrary to democracy would return Albania to Hoxa's time, he said. Kadare spoke about Albania's history, saying faith had no influence on the resolution of the Albanian national issue because Albanians were of
ZAGREB, March 23 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic could
mediate in the conflict between Albanians and Macedonians,
renowned Albanian writer Ismail Kadare said in Zagreb on Friday.
Mesic is a humanist, a president with a vision of this region's
future, Kadare said answering reporters' questions at today's news
conference ahead of tonight's presentation of "Three Elegies for
Kosovo", Kadare's first book to be translated into Croatian.
Commenting on his role as spokesman for the Albanian people in the
world, Kadare said Albanians had to be grateful to Europe for
freedom in Kosovo. The destiny of the Albanian people is linked with
the destiny of the western democracy and any other idea contrary to
democracy would return Albania to Hoxa's time, he said.
Kadare spoke about Albania's history, saying faith had no influence
on the resolution of the Albanian national issue because Albanians
were of Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim faith.
Culture filled with love can help the peoples of the Balkans best,
he believes.
Asked how he felt as a writer in exile given that he has been living
in Paris for the past ten years, Kadare said the inward freedom of
literature was different than outward freedom. He stressed the
paradox that literature can be free in an isolated country but that
it also can be isolated in a free country.
The Albanian writer also met representatives of the Albanian
minority and cultural associations in Croatia.
(hina) rml